The Sunrise Health Region Board approved the region's Health Promotion Grants for 2012 at its regular meeting last Wednesday.
Louise Belanger, Community Health Educator, told the Board they received some 75 grant requests for $122,967, with $30,400 being allocated toward 29 projects in 22 communities within the health region.
Belanger said they try to target the grant dollars toward projects which help "create healthy communities," adding that is both a provincial direction, and that of the local region.
Of particular interest are projects which fall within areas SHR has defined as important; active living, injury/falls prevention, healthy child development, recreation activities, cultural events and projects and tobacco reduction projects.
The general criteria guideline is to improve population health through health promotion, protection and disease prevention, and collaborating with communities and different government organizations to close the health disparity gap.
In the past year 28 groups received funding, selected from 62 requests.
Belanger said based on evaluation provided by groups receiving funding more than 1400 people "were engaged" through the funded projects, including 455 youth and 180 children.
"Even though these grants are small they have an impact," she said. " The value to the community is priceless."
